Bicentennial Summer

Literature & Fiction

synopsis

Synopsis

“An engaging coming-of-age novel that tackles all the messy and beautiful parts of being a family.” Kirkus Reviews

“Highly recommended reading, regardless of your favorite genre; it will stay with you for a long time.” Readers’ Favorite

“Coming-of-age road trip novel alive with incident and a fraught father/daughter relationship.” BookLife by Publishers Weekly

“…engaging, accessible, and filled with period detail that will transport readers back to 1976. Berelson has a gift for dialogue that rings true to a child’s perspective…” Seattle Book Review

Bicentennial Summer is a coming-of-age novel set in 1976, following 13-year-old Mary as she embarks on a cross-country road trip with her father and younger twin sisters. Struggling with the fallout from her parents’ conflict over her father's shady business practices, Mary learns to navigate family dynamics, her father's reckless behavior, and her own journey of self-discovery. As the family faces unexpected challenges, including a breakdown in Texas, Mary grapples with the complexities of growing up and coming to terms with the flaws of those she loves most.

bio

Author Biography

After thirty years of wrangling students in the Lake Tahoe area, Mary Berelson finally sat down to write the story that had been rolling around in her head for decades. A lifelong creative spirit, she’s dabbled in music, painting, and just about any artistic pursuit that catches her interest. Now living in Tennessee, she spends her days exploring, writing, and embracing life’s next adventure. Bicentennial Summer is her debut novel—a road trip story with a heart full of nostalgia and a little bit of mischief.

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Author Insight

Lord Have Mercy - You’ve Won Me Over

In this scene, compassion wins out over pride and practicality. What I love most is that it’s the children’s sincerity—and the offering of simple flowers—that changes Sandra’s heart. Their father’s flawed optimism and their shared vulnerability create a small miracle of kindness in an otherwise harsh moment. Writing this, I was struck by how goodness often appears in unlikely places: a weary motel clerk, a broken-down family, and the courage to ask for help when there’s nothing left to trade but trust.

Book Excerpt

Bicentennial Summer

Sandra sighed. “Lord have mercy! You’ve won me over. It’ll be our secret.” She looked around, as if someone might hear her.

I could’ve sobbed with joy. I nearly did, in fact—I tried to exhale a sigh of relief, but it came out as more of a whimper. Jill and Gerri hugged each side of me, staying close, and Dad’s hand found my shoulder, squeezing it.

“Thanks, ma’am—” Dad started, but Sandra held up her hand to him.

“I’m doing this for your children, Ralph, not for you. You should be providing them with a more upstanding role model. It doesn’t look like you planned ahead for emergencies. Wait here,” she said. After arranging the flowers in a couple of vases she’d procured from the back, she handed us a key to room 115. “It’s the room closest to the pool.” She winked at me. “Check out is at ten o’clock.”

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Mary Berelson

Bicentennial Summer

Synopsis

Author Biography

Author Insight

Lord Have Mercy - You’ve Won Me Over

Book Excerpt

Bicentennial Summer

Comment on this Bubble